---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 70501"
description: "Findings and declarations"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "705"
chapter_name: "MARITIME DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT"
section: "70501"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 70501"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s70501"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "5b53f7cd37c409e6ef4b2914757c27a3d748c7dd8630c535ce3ee5254f968672"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "22f0854a99295a19baebf1d51a927e00d9202f7c79d59850cd9f6c361466aa39"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 70501 - Findings and declarations

## Text

Congress finds and declares that (1) trafficking in controlled substances aboard vessels is a serious international problem, is universally condemned, and presents a specific threat to the security and societal well-being of the United States and (2) operating or embarking in a submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel without nationality and on an international voyage is a serious international problem, facilitates transnational crime, including drug trafficking, and terrorism, and presents a specific threat to the safety of maritime navigation and the security of the United States.

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 10(2), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1685; Pub. L. 110–407, title II, § 201, Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4299.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7050146 App.:1902.Pub. L. 96–350, § 2, Sept. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 1160; Pub. L. 99–307, § 7, May 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 447; Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3202, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–95; Pub. L. 99–640, § 17, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3552.

Editorial Notes

Amendments2008—Pub. L. 110–407 inserted cl. (1) designation after “declares that”, substituted “States and” for “States.”, and added cl. (2).